Spirit Survive the Shootout: Washington to Semis for Second Year in a Row
Even before kickoff, Audi Field was shaking. My uncle texted, “It is HYPE here at the stadium. You can’t even hear the PA,” and honestly, that said it all. Nearly 20,000 fans showed up to watch the Spirit survive a 1–1 nail-biter and edge Racing Louisville 3–1 in penalties to reach the NWSL semifinals.
The Spirit controlled possession early, with Rosemonde Kouassi nearly opening the scoring in the 17th minute before the goal was called back for offside after VAR review. They finally broke through in the 73rd when Kouassi found Gift Monday, who headed home the cross to give Washington the lead.
Gift Monday pushed through an emotional postgame press conference, saying, “I know my dad is with me, and this goal was proof.” Monday’s playoff goal came just weeks after her father passed away. “I dedicated that goal to all of the Spirit fans, and my dad,” she added. Monday had returned to Nigeria to be with her family and rejoined the Spirit earlier this week.
Racing Louisville equalized deep into stoppage time, when Kayla Fischer slipped through the Spirit back line and chipped keeper Aubrey Kingsbury to force extra time.
Neither team found a winner in the added 30 minutes, sending the match to penalties. Kingsbury, as she has many times before, was the difference. She saved two of Louisville’s spot kicks, while Rebeca Bernal, Esme Morgan, and Hal Hershfelt all converted theirs to seal the win.
The Spirit now move on to the NWSL semifinals for the second straight year, while Racing Louisville’s first playoff campaign comes to an end.
Three takeaways
1. Playoff experience matters. Washington looked the more composed side in extra time and the shootout, relying on veterans like Kingsbury and Bernal to steady the team.
2. Louisville’s progress is real. Their first postseason appearance pushed a top-four seed to penalties. They’re not sneaking up on anyone next year.
3. Spirit fans showed up. Attendance was 19,215 — another strong Audi Field crowd that gave the team a clear home-field lift.
Box Score
NWSL Playoffs — Quarterfinals
Washington Spirit 1 (Monday 73′)
Racing Louisville 1 (Fischer 90+2′)
Washington wins 3–1 on penalties.
Lineup:
Washington Spirit (5-3-2): Aubrey Kingsbury; Rebeca Bernal, Tara McKeown (Kysha Sylla 105+2′), Gabrielle Carle (Kate Wiesner 33′), Rosemonde Kouassi (Paige Metayer 82′), Esme Morgan; Croix Bethune, Hal Hershfelt, Leicy Santos (Narumi Miura 88′); Gift Monday (Brittany Ratcliffe 88′), Sofia Cantore
Racing Louisville (4-3-3): Jordyn Bloomer; Lauren Milliet, Kirsten Wright, Ellie Jean, Janine Sonis (Bethany Balcer 90+1′); Taylor Flint, Adriana Alves Borges, Katie O’Kane (Marisa DiGrande 85′); Ella Hase (Courtney Petersen 85′), Emma Sears, Sarah Weber (Kayla Fischer 66′)
Misconduct Summary:
Washington Spirit — Morgan 87′
Racing Louisville — Borges 90+9′
Given how tight teams tend to operate in the playoffs, I think Gift Monday is a critical player because she’s so good at finding space in the box and operating in congested space in-close and then finishing. Let’s hope that McKeown’s ankle isn’t serious, that they’re just taking precautions. And let’s hope that some of the other walking wounded (Rodman, Carle, Abiodun) are healthy for the semis.
Hoping Abiodun, Carle, McKeown, and Trin are healthy and fit for the semi!